England Children Legislation, Statutory Guidance, Good Practice Guidance, and Regulatory Authorities.
The Department of Education (DfE) In England the DfE holds responsibility for child protection. It sets out the legislation, statutory guidance and policy for safeguarding children in all settings and situations.
The local safeguarding partners are the relevant:
- local authority
- clinical commissioning group
- police
To find your local council, use this link; Report Child Abuse to Social Care or dial 999 if an emergency
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
SAFEcic DBS guides and purchasing
Free 30 minute consultation with a SAFEcic expert
LEGISLATION
All Legislation - Government website where you can search all UK Legislation. Below are links to many that are directly relevant to Safeguarding;
ALL and MULTI-AGENCY SECTORS
The Children Act 1989 Brought many different laws together and is now the law on which the current child protection system is based
Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2019
Children Act 2004 A legislative framework for cooperation between agencies working to safeguard children and includes the role of Commissioner for children in England
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Public Interest Disclosure Act 1989
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Serious Crime Act 2015 Part 5 of this Act is about Protection of Children etc
EDUCATION
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
The Education Act 2002 Includes a provision (section 175) requiring school governing bodies, local education authorities and further education institutions to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Regulations made under section 157 state that proprietors of independent schools (which include Academies and Free schools) must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils and in doing so must have regard to any statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Children and Social Work Act 2017
OTHER
STATUTORY GUIDANCE
ALL and MULTI-AGENCY SECTORS
Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation July 2020
Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation – procedural information 2019
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 updated 2024
Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales updated 2024
Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care January updated 2024
EDUCATION
Department for Education all statutory guidance for schools
Including
- Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024
- Behaviour in Schools September updated February 2024
- Searching, Screening and Confiscation Advice for schools July 2022
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Department for Health and Social Care all Regulations and Guidance
OTHER
CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage Legal Guidance revised 2023 and 2024
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE
ALL and MULTI-AGENCY SECTORS
National referral mechanism guidance: adult (England and Wales) updated May 2024
DBS filtering guide October 2023 Please note, the new filtering guidance applies to certificates issued on or after 28 October 2023. The previous filtering guidanceis still available for reference.
Female Genital Mutilation Prosecution Guidance updated August 2023
Child exploitation disruption toolkit September 2022 (England and Wales)
Criminal Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: County Lines guidance 2023
Whistleblowing: Prescribed persons guidance 2017
Victims of modern slavery – frontline staff guidance updated May 2024
What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused Advice for practitioners March 2015
Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked - Practice guidance 2011
EDUCATION
Department for Education all Guidance and Regulation
Including
- Staffing and employment advice for schools Departmental advice for school leaders, governing bodies, academy trusts and local authorities 2021
- Female Genital Mutilation: Guidance for schools: Understanding your role in safeguarding girls, engaging parents and teaching about FGM June 2019
- Teaching online safety in school updated 2023 Guidance supporting schools to teach their pupils how to stay safe online, within new and existing school subjects
- UKCIS Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people updated 2024
- Safeguarding children affected by parental alcohol and drug use Guidance December 2018
- Preventing and tackling bullying advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies July 2017
- Public sector equality duty guidance for schools in England 2022
To be read alongside the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education
- When to call the Police Guidance for Schools and Colleges
- Prevent Duty Assessment Tool for Schools 2023
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Whistleblowing Helpline for the NHS and Social Care Telephone 08000 724725
Department for Health and Social Care all Regulations and Guidance
Safeguarding in general dental practice April 3rd 2019 (England)
Protecting children and young people: The responsibilities of all doctors 2018
Child abuse and neglect: NICE guideline [NG76] Published date: October 2017
REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
For Education
Ofsted all Regulation and Guidance
Including
- Education inspection framework 2019
- Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills 2024
- Ofsted Safeguarding Policy Guidance updated March 2021
- Ofsted Safeguarding concerns: guidance for inspectors March 2021
- Whistleblowing about children's social care services to Ofsted updated 2019
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Inspection Framework 2018
For Health and Social Care
Care Quality Commission (CQC) all Regulation and Guidance
Including
Charity Commission
Charity Commission all Guidance and Regulation
Including
- Report serious wrongdoing at a charity as a worker or volunteer 2019
- Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees updated 2022
- Safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH) in the aid sector updated 2024
